583 businesses in all have been rated by the Human Rights Campaign on a scale of 0 to 100 percent on their treatment of LGBT workers, customers and investors. 259 of these companies received a perfect score, up from 195 last year. 120 of the top rated businesses are Fortune 500 companies.

Transgender workers in particular have seen a boost in employment protections, with 66 percent of rated businesses barring discrimination based on gender identity and expression, up from 5 percent when the Corporate Equality Index was first published in 2002. "Improving and establishing an equal workplace for a transgender person is essential for any company that wishes to attract, recruit and retain talented employees," said HRC Business Council member and transgender activist Meghan Stabler. "Often we are singled out for discrimination and, very often, job termination, solely because of our gender change or gender expression regardless of work history. The significant increase in companies achieving 100 percent on the CEI shows that the business-employee climate is improving, but we know there is still significant progress to be made."

The top-rated businesses, employing over 9 million people full-time, protect these employees from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender expression through company policies, diversity training, and health and domestic partner benefits.

"The 2009 Corporate Equality Index shows that corporate America understands that a diverse workforce is critical to remaining successful and competitive," said HRC Foundation President Joe Solmonese. "In the absence of a federal law that prohibits workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, it is up to employers to take the lead and implement policies that ensure all their employees are protected."

The report can be viewed HERE.